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At least 127 records · Page 7

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NASA NTRS1983

Characteristics of thermally-induced transverse cracks in graphite epoxy composite laminates

The characteristics of thermally induced transverse cracks in T300/5208 graphite-epoxy cross-ply and quasi-isotropic laminates were investigated both experimentally and analytically. The formation of transverse cracks and the subsequent crack spacing present during cool down to -250 F (116K) and thermal cycling between 250 and -250 F (116 and 394K) was investigated. The state of stress in the vicinity of a transverse crack and the influence of transverse cracking on the laminate coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) was predicted using a generalized plane strain finite element analysis and a modified shear lag analysis. A majority of the cross-ply laminates experienced transverse cracking during the initial cool down to -250 F whereas the quasi-isotropic laminates remained uncracked. The in situ transverse strength of the 90 degree layers was more than 1.9 times greater than the transverse strength of the unidirectional 90 degree material for all laminates investigated.

Adams, D. S.↗

NASA NTRS1983

Fracture behavior of hybrid composite laminates

The tensile fracture behavior of 15 center-notched hybrid laminates was studied. Three basic laminate groups were tested: (1) a baseline group with graphite/epoxy plies, (2) a group with the same stacking sequence but where the zero-deg plies were one or two plies of S-glass or Kevlar, and (3) a group with graphite plies but where the zero-deg plies were sandwiched between layers of perforated Mylar. Specimens were loaded linearly with time; load, far field strain, and crack opening displacement (COD) were monitored. The loading was stopped periodically and the notched region was radiographed to reveal the extent and type of damage (failure progression). Results of the tests showed that the hybrid laminates had higher fracture toughnesses than comparable all-graphite laminates. The higher fracture toughness was due primarily to the larger damage region at the ends of the slit; delamination and splitting lowered the stress concentration in the primary load-carrying plies. A linear elastic fracture analysis, which ignored delamination and splitting, underestimated the fracture toughness. For almost all of the laminates, the tests showed that the fracture toughness increased with crack length. The size of the damage region at the ends of the slit and COD measurements also increased with crack length.

Kennedy, J. M.↗

NASA NTRS1983

Residual stresses and their effects in composite laminates

Residual stresses in composite laminates are caused by the anisotropy in expansional properties of constituent unidirectional plies. The effect of these residual stresses on dimensional stability is studied through the warping of unsymmetric (0 sub 4/90 sub 4)sub T graphite/epoxy laminates while their effect on ply failure is analyzed for (0/90)sub 2s Kevlar 49/epoxy laminate. The classical laminated plate theory is used to predict the warping of small and large panels. The change of warping does not indicate a noticeable stress relaxation at 75 C while it is very sensitive to moisture content and hence to environment. A prolonged gellation at the initial cure temperature reduces residual stresses while postcure does not. The matrix/interface cracking in dry (0/90)sub 2s Kevlar 49/epoxy laminate is shown to be the result of the residual stress exceeding the transverse strength.

Hahn, H. T.↗

NASA NTRS1983

Fracture behavior of unidirectional boron/aluminum composite laminates

An experiment was conducted to verify the results of mathematical models which predict the stresses and displacements of fibers and the amount of damage growth in a center-notched lamina as a function of the applied remote stress and the matrix and fiber material properties. A brittle lacquer coating was used to detect the yielding in the matrix while X-ray techniques were used to determine the number of broken fibers in the laminate. The notched strengths and the amounts of damage found in the specimens agree well with those predicted by the mathematical model. It is shown that the amount of damage and the crack opening displacement does not depend strongly on the number of plies in the laminate for a given notch width. By heat-treating certain laminates to increase the yield stress of the alumina matrix, the effect of different matrix properties on the fracture behavior was investigated. The stronger matrix is shown to weaken the notched laminate by decreasing the amount of matrix damage, thereby making the laminate more notch sensitive.

Goree, J. G.↗

NASA NTRS1984

Analysis of local delaminations and their influence on composite laminate behavior

An equation was derived for the strain energy release rate, G, associated with local delamination growth from a matrix ply crack. The critical GC for edge delamination onset in 25/902s graphite epoxy laminates was measured and used in this equation to predict local delamination onset strains in 25/90ns, n = 4, 6, 8 laminates. A simple technique for predicting strain concentrations in the primary load bearing plies near local delaminations was developed. These strain concentrations were responsible for reduced laminate nominal failure strains in laminates containing local delaminations. The influence of edge delamination and matrix crack tip delamination on laminate stiffness and strength was compared.

Obrien, T. K.↗

NASA NTRS1984

Composite laminates with negative through-the-thickness Poisson's ratios

A simple analysis using two dimensional lamination theory combined with the appropriate three dimensional anisotropic constitutive equation is presented to show some rather surprising results for the range of values of the through-the-thickness effective Poisson's ratio nu sub xz for angle ply laminates. Results for graphite-epoxy show that the through-the-thickness effective Poisson's ratio can range from a high of 0.49 for a 90 laminate to a low of -0.21 for a + or - 25s laminate. It is shown that negative values of nu sub xz are also possible for other laminates.

Carl T. Herakovich↗

NASA NTRS1983

A numerical procedure for predicting creep and delayed failures in laminated composites

A numerical procedure is described for predicting the viscoelastic response of general laminates. A nonlinear compliance model is used to predict the creep response of the individual laminae. A biaxial delayed failure model predicts ply failure. The numerical procedure, based on lamination theory, increases by increments through time to predict creep compliance and delayed failures in laminates. Numerical stability problems and experimental verification are discussed. Although the program has been quite successful in predicting creep of general laminates, the assumptions associated with lamination theory have resulted in erroneous bounds on the predicted material response. Delayed failure predictions have been conservative. Several improvements are suggested to increase the accuracy of the procedure.

Dillard, D. A.↗

NASA NTRS1983

Elasticity solutions for a class of composite laminate problems with stress singularities

A study on the fundamental mechanics of fiber-reinforced composite laminates with stress singularities is presented. Based on the theory of anisotropic elasticity and Lekhnitskii's complex-variable stress potentials, a system of coupled governing partial differential equations are established. An eigenfunction expansion method is introduced to determine the orders of stress singularities in composite laminates with various geometric configurations and material systems. Complete elasticity solutions are obtained for this class of singular composite laminate mechanics problems. Homogeneous solutions in eigenfunction series and particular solutions in polynomials are presented for several cases of interest. Three examples are given to illustrate the method of approach and the basic nature of the singular laminate elasticity solutions. The first problem is the well-known laminate free-edge stress problem, which has a rather weak stress singularity. The second problem is the important composite delamination problem, which has a strong crack-tip stress singularity. The third problem is the commonly encountered bonded composite joints, which has a complex solution structure with moderate orders of stress singularities.

Wang, S. S.↗

NASA NTRS1984

Effect of microcracks on the thermal expansion of composite laminates

A finite element analysis was used to quantitatively predict the effect of matrix microcracks in the 90 deg plies of graphite/epoxy composites on the coefficient of thermal expansion in the 0 deg direction, alpha (y) (perpendicular to the cracks). Results were generated for (0m/90n)s, (0/+ or 45/90)s and (0/90/ + or - 45)s graphite/epoxy laminate configurations. Analytical predictions were compared with experimental results for the two quasi-isotropic laminate configurations. Both analytical and experimental results showed that microcracks reduced the effective stiffness of the 90 deg plies, thus causing the laminates, thermal response to be more like that of a (0) laminate. The change in alpha(y) was a function of lamina material properties, microcrack density, fiber orientation, and stacking sequence. A combination of classical lamination theory and finite element analysis was used to predict the effect of microcracks in both the 90 deg and 0 deg plies. Analytical results showed that the addition of microcracks in the 0 deg plies do affect alpha(y), but to a lesser extent than those in the 90 deg plies.

Bowles, D. E.↗

NASA NTRS1984

Composite laminate optimization program suitable for microcomputers

The design of a composite panel requires some way of finding the minimum thickness laminate which will withstand the load requirements without failure. The mathematical complexity of this problem dictates the use of nonlinear optimization techniques. Specialized laminate optimization programs were developed which are compact and efficient enough to run on microcomputers. Only stresses at a point and inplane loads and deflections are considered. The programs are simple to use and require no knowledge of optimization. Techniques are developed which find minimum thickness laminates with either ply ratios or ply angles as design variables. A method is presented for finding the optimum orientation for the axis of symmetry of an orthotropic laminate. The orthotropic laminate program uses an approximate failure theory, which speed up computations dramatically.

Flanagan, G. V.↗

NASA NTRS1984

Composite laminates with negative through-the-thickness Poisson's ratios

A simple analysis using two-dimensional lamination theory combined with the appropriate three-dimensional anisotropic constitutive equation is presented to show some rather surprising results for the range of values of the through-the-thickness effective Poisson's ratio nu sub xz for angle ply laminates. Results for graphite-epoxy show that the through-the-thickness effective Poisson's ratio can range from a high of 0.49 for a 90 laminate to a low of -0.21 for a + or - 25s laminate. It is shown that negative values of nu sub xz are also possible for other laminates.

Herakovich, C. T.↗

NASA NTRS1985

On the use of crack-tip-opening displacement to predict the fracture strength of notched graphite/epoxy laminates

Using the center-cracked tension specimen geometry, the fracture strength of notched graphite/epoxy laminates is measured experimentally. Four replicate tests are conducted for a variety of laminate-stacking sequences, thicknesses, and notch lengths. Extensive notch-tip damage prior to fracture is characteristic of most laminates. The values of critical crack-tip-opening displacement (CTOD) are calculated from values of crack-opening displacement measured at the notch center line at failure and are found to be independent of notch size for the laminates studied. A Dugdale (1950) model is used along with the estimated CTOD to predict notched laminate strength.

Harris, C. E.↗

NASA NTRS1985

Autoclave processing for composite material fabrication. 1: An analysis of resin flows and fiber compactions for thin laminate

High quality long fiber reinforced composites, such as those used in aerospace and industrial applications, are commonly processed in autoclaves. An adequate resin flow model for the entire system (laminate/bleeder/breather), which provides a description of the time-dependent laminate consolidation process, is useful in predicting the loss of resin, heat transfer characteristics, fiber volume fraction and part dimension, etc., under a specified set of processing conditions. This could be accomplished by properly analyzing the flow patterns and pressure profiles inside the laminate during processing. A newly formulated resin flow model for composite prepreg lamination process is reported. This model considers viscous resin flows in both directions perpendicular and parallel to the composite plane. In the horizontal direction, a squeezing flow between two nonporous parallel plates is analyzed, while in the vertical direction, a poiseuille type pressure flow through porous media is assumed. Proper force and mass balances have been made and solved for the whole system. The effects of fiber-fiber interactions during lamination are included as well. The unique features of this analysis are: (1) the pressure gradient inside the laminate is assumed to be generated from squeezing action between two adjacent approaching fiber layers, and (2) the behavior of fiber bundles is simulated by a Finitely Extendable Nonlinear Elastic (FENE) spring.

Hou, T. H.↗

NASA NTRS1985

Analysis of local delaminations and their influence on composite laminate behavior

Obrien, T. K.↗

NASA NTRS1986

A comparison of the fracture behavior of thick laminated composites utilizing compact tension, three-point bend, and center-cracked tension specimens

An experimental study of the effects of specimen configuration and laminate thickness on the fracture behavior of notched laminated composites is presented. The behavior of (0/+, 45/90)ns, (0/90)ns and (0/+, - 45)ns graphite/epoxy T300/5208 laminates was studied. When fracture toughness was computed at the failing load of the center-cracked tension specimen, laminate thickness significantly influenced fracture toughness. If fracture toughness was computed at the interception of the 5 percent secant line with the load-COD record, fracture toughness was found to be independent of both laminate thickness and specimen configuration. Defined in this manner, fracture toughness can be physically interpreted as an indicator of the onset of significant notch-tip damage.

Harris, C. E.↗

NASA NTRS1987

A higher-order theory for geometrically nonlinear analysis of composite laminates

A third-order shear deformation theory of laminated composite plates and shells is developed, the Navier solutions are derived, and its finite element models are developed. The theory allows parabolic description of the transverse shear stresses, and therefore the shear correction factors of the usual shear deformation theory are not required in the present theory. The theory also accounts for the von Karman nonlinear strains. Closed-form solutions of the theory for rectangular cross-ply and angle-ply plates and cross-ply shells are developed. The finite element model is based on independent approximations of the displacements and bending moments (i.e., mixed finite element model), and therefore, only C sup o -approximation is required. The finite element model is used to analyze cross-ply and angle-ply laminated plates and shells for bending and natural vibration. Many of the numerical results presented here should serve as references for future investigations. Three major conclusions resulted from the research: First, for thick laminates, shear deformation theories predict deflections, stresses and vibration frequencies significantly different from those predicted by classical theories. Second, even for thin laminates, shear deformation effects are significant in dynamic and geometrically nonlinear analyses. Third, the present third-order theory is more accurate compared to the classical and firt-order theories in predicting static and dynamic response of laminated plates and shells made of high-modulus composite materials.

Reddy, J. N.↗

NASA NTRS1987

Dynamic delamination buckling in composite laminates under impact loading: Computational simulation

A unique dynamic delamination buckling and delamination propagation analysis capability has been developed and incorporated into a finite element computer program. This capability consists of the following: (1) a modification of the direct time integration solution sequence which provides a new analysis algorithm that can be used to predict delamination buckling in a laminate subjected to dynamic loading, and (2) a new method of modeling the composite laminate using plate bending elements and multipoint constraints. This computer program is used to predict both impact induced buckling in composite laminates with initial delaminations and the strain energy release rate due to extension of the delamination. It is shown that delaminations near the outer surface of a laminate are susceptible to local buckling and buckling-induced delamination propagation when the laminate is subjected to transverse impact loading. The capability now exists to predict the time at which the onset of dynamic delamination buckling occurs, the dynamic buckling mode shape, and the dynamic delamination strain energy release rate.

Grady, Joseph E.↗

NASA NTRS1988

Simulated impact damage in a thick graphite/epoxy laminate using spherical indenters

A study was made to determine the extent of fiber damage caused by low-velocity impact of spherical impactors to a very thick graphite/epoxy laminate. The laminate was cut from a filament wound case being developed for the Space Shuttle solid rocket motors. The case was wound using a wet process with AS4W graphite fiber and HBRF-55A epoxy. Impacts were simulated under quasi-static conditions by pressing hemispherically shaped indenters against the laminate at different locations. The contact force and indenter diameter were varied from location to location. The forces were chosen for each indenter diameter to produce contact pressures below and above that required to initiate damage. After the forces were applied, the laminate was cut into smaller pieces so that each piece contained a test site. The pieces were then deplied and the individual plies examined to determine the extent of fiber damage. Broken fibers were found in the outer layers directly beneath the contact site. The locus of broken fibers in each layer resembled a crack normal to the direction of the fibers. The maximum length and depth of the cracks increased with increasing contact pressure and indenter diameter. The internal stresses in the laminate were calculated using Hertz's law and Love's solution for pressure applied on part of the boundary of a semi-infinite body. The maximum length and depth of the cracks were predicted using a maximum shear stress criterion. Predictions and measurements were in good agreement.

Poe, C. C., Jr.↗